Country-music awards for Chesney, Brooks & Dunn

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Kenny Chesney won entertainer of the year and Brooks & Dunn's inspirational song "Believe" won three trophies, including single and song of the year, at the 40th annual Country Music Association Awards on Monday night.

"This year has in ways been the most emotionally satisfying year and also the most emotionally draining year of my life," said Chesney, who went through a high-profile marriage and split with actress Renée Zellweger last year.

One of the night's more poignant moments came from a winner who wasn't even there — Keith Urban. The Aussie country star, who last month entered a rehabilitation center for alcohol abuse, won male vocalist of the year for the second year in a row.

When Urban's name was announced, he received a standing ovation, and his award was accepted by Ronnie Dunn. Dunn read a letter from Urban in which he thanked his friends and family and actress-wife Nicole Kidman, whom he married earlier this year: "To my wife, Nicole, I love you."

Urban, whose new album was released this week, canceled all publicity appearances after announcing last month that he had checked into a rehabilitation treatment center. The revelation came less than four months after the Grammy-winning singer's marriage to Kidman.

Besides accepting the award for Urban, Dunn was busy accepting awards and also hosting the show along with his partner, Kix Brooks. The pair also won music video of the year for "Believe" and opened the night by performing "Building Bridges" with guests Vince Gill and Sheryl Crow.

As expected, Brooks & Dunn also won vocal duo award. The group has owned the category since 1992, winning every year except in 2000 when Montgomery Gentry won.

"I'm sincerely shocked the voters haven't gotten tired of seeing us walk up there," Brooks said backstage.

"American Idol" winner Carrie Underwood won female vocalist and the Horizon Award.

Brad Paisley, who was shut out last year despite six nomination, won album of the year for "Time Well Wasted."

Before Monday's show, he and Dolly Parton also won musical event of the year for their spiritual song "When I Get Where I'm Going." It was Parton's first CMA award since 1996.

The multiplatinum band Rascal Flatts took the vocal group award, capping what singer Gary LeVox described as an "amazing year."

The show returned to Nashville after one year in New York City.

Much offstage talk centered on Urban and another high-profile nominee, Sara Evans.

Evans dropped out of the reality TV show "Dancing with the Stars" and filed for a divorce a few weeks ago, making several unseemly charges against her husband, former Republican Congressional candidate Craig Schelske, who denied the allegations.